Sam, Lawrence score, Wrexham win

LONDON: Trinidad and Tobago duo of Hector Sam and Dennis Lawrence put their uncertain futures at debt-ridden League One Wrexham aside as they both scored to crush Conference-side Hayes 4-0 in the FA Cup first round at Church Road on Saturday. Defender Lawrence scored his sixth goal this season when he netted in the 30th minute while the 26-year-old striker Sam, who has been called up by Trinidad and Tobago for their final CONCACAF World Cup semi final round match on Wednesday, headed in Simon Spencer’s cross in the 37th minute.

It was a motivational win for Wrexham who entered the game knowing that it might be the last played by the club. Wrexham officials will head to court next week in an attempt to keep the club from closing, after the Inland Revenue imposed a wind up order for owed taxes of around ?800,000. It was Sam however who started the Wrexham domination in the game when he pulled the ball back from the byline to set up Andy Holt who fired home to open the scoring after 17 minutes.

Lawrence, who has been in fine goal-scoring touch this season, then headed a Matt Crowell cross against the post before following it up to bundle the ball in. Seven minutes later, Sam was on hand to tap home and give Wrexham a 3-0 half time lead. Chris Llewellyn’s 83rd-minute strike completed the rout. Earlier this week, both Lawrence and Sam were at the centre of interests from League Two club Chester City who made enquiries as to the availability of the players.